INSECT DYES. 165 



to France, Germany, and Italy, were estimated in 1843, at the 

 value of near 200,000, and in 1844 the quantity of raw silk 

 consumed, at 4,431,812 Ibs. 



Silk, of late years so considerably cheapened, will doubtless 

 be soon further reduced by our new relations with the 

 Celestial Empire, and our present system of unrestricted trade. 

 Who can tell but that silken gowns, lowered as they already 

 are to within the tip-toe reach of the Million, may not, when 

 yet more accessible, be fairly trampled on by the aristocratic 

 few? 



As connected with outward apparel, as well as various other 

 arts of ornament, our next obligation to Insects is for dyes. 

 Cochineal, which until the year 1694 was believed in Europe 

 to be a seed, is now known, by putting a few grains in warm 

 water, to be an Insect, a Coccus or wingless Beetle, something 

 resembling in form those commonly found on the leaves of 

 grape-vines and of the hawthorn. It is a native of China and 

 other parts of Asia, where the nopal or the prickly pear on 

 which it feeds, is indigenous. Of the great importance of this 

 Insect production as an article of commerce, we may form an 

 idea from the recorded facts, that the East India Company 

 offered a reward of 6000 for its introduction into India, and 

 that some years ago the annual consumption (probably much 

 increased) in Great Britain alone was reckoned at 750 bags, 

 worth 375,000. 



Another species of Coccus, found on the evergreen oak in 



